AFCON 2015: Kigigha blames Eagles’ ouster on NFF, Keshi players

CAF/FIFA Referees Fitness Instructor, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Felix Kigigha has told the Nigeria Football Federation, coach Stephen Keshi and his technical assistants to accept responsibility for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea next year. Speaking to Vanguard Sports, Kigigha, who described the Eagles performance in the qualifying series as unacceptable and lamentable, said despite warnings by concerned Nigerians including himself, Felix Owolabi and other fans, NFF members rather agreed not to work for national interest but engaged in self aggrandizement.

Keshi

“Some of us voiced our observations about defects and problems of the national team. NFF failed to plan The NFF leadership and Stephen Keshi approached the whole issue in a nonchalant manner and this flowed down to the players. In fact, our problem started soon after the World Cup in Brazil. There was no post- mortem of our participation in that competition which would have given us a direction, what to do and amount of resources to marshal out.”

“But those in administration acted as if Nigeria was Brazil, Germany and Argentina and others fused into a team that is invincible in Africa which of course we are not. I am really blaming them because when they had enough time to put things right, they rather were more concerned in getting elected into office. The Stephen Keshi facto was there too. He did not act as a professional all the time. So I knew that given earlier results in the qualifiers, even if we had beaten South Africa, it was only due to respect for us not about superiority.”